Genetic Techniques Used in Odr 10 Paper

157

23rd Dec 2021

Sengupta, Chou, and Bargmann, 1996: odr-10 encodes a seven transmembrane domain olfactory receptor required for responses to the odorant diacetyl
Approximate length: 1,500 words

* Submission is complete only when both modes of submission have been successfully received. There will be a 10% deduction in your score for every day late.

Important information:
• Your paper must be your independent work. The analysis, interpretation and writing are to be done alone and not with your classmates. Your paper must demonstrate your independent understanding of the data and models. Don’t simply paraphrase (or quote) what you have read.
• You don’t need to use any references other than the Sengupta et al. paper and our textbook. However, if you do, you must provide a list of all outside references (including web sites) that you consult. You don’t need to list the Sengupta et al. paper as a reference.

Background and rationale:
Chapter 16 of your textbook surveys the repertoire of genetic techniques — providing an overview of forward (16.1 and 16.2) and reverse (16.3) genetics and transgenes (16.4). These techniques must be tailored to the biological process of interest in ways that ensure efficiency and specificity. For instance, the genetic pathway that mediates C. elegans vulva induction was discovered through a forward genetic screen for egg-laying defective mutants (which was done at low-level resolution and thus allowed rapid screening), followed by analysis of vulva cell lineages (to eliminate mutations affecting egg-laying specific muscles and neurons). Choosing the right genetic technique requires skill; see, for example, the discussion in section 16.4 of your textbook of the relative advantages of transcriptional versus translational gene fusions with reporter constructs. Good luck is an additional ingredient of successful genetic analysis. For instance, the fact that the genes required for C. elegans vulva induction resemble those that encode ligands, receptors and signal transduction molecules in other organisms added obvious significance to the results.

The assignment:
The study by Sengupta et al. involved several genetic techniques. Read the paper and determine the techniques that were used and the results that were obtained. Consider each genetic experiment with respect to the concepts discussed in the Background section above.

Consider the following questions.

Do you think that this paper provided important insight into C. elegans olfaction and/or into the process of olfaction more generally?
To the extent that it did, what techniques do you think contributed the most to this success?
How did skill and/or luck contribute to the authors’ success?
Formulate a thesis statement that summarizes what you will discuss in your body paragraphs (see below) and an overall point of view. For instance: “In this paper, I’ll argue that, of the various experiments performed, the generation of an odr-10 deletion mutation with transposon insertion provided the key evidence for the gene’s specificity.”

You’ll then write a paper with the following components:
1.   An introduction, which should contain:
a.   Background information that will allow your reader to follow the more detailed section of your paper e.g. background on C. elegans olfaction, the design of forward genetic screens, etc. (Don’t include general information on C. elegans genetics that has no specific relevance to your paper)
b.   Your thesis statement
2.   Three body paragraphs. Each paragraph should describe one genetic experiment from the paper (including method and result). Discuss the experiment with respect to the concepts from the “Background and rationale” paragraph above, and any other strengths and/or weaknesses.
3.   A conclusion that summarizes the main points from your body paragraphs and how they support your thesis statement
4.   A list of any references (including web sites) other than the Sengupta et al. paper and our textbook (if any) that you consult